The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 178: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

172 tricious display of her charms. Elegance was the principal characteristic of her gait and carriage ; though her height, rather than her bearing, in- vested her with a certain degree of dignity. There was however about her none of that pride—much less that majesty of demeanour, which the imagina- tion is apt to associate with the rank of a Duchess. Indeed, to gaze upon her one would have thought that a less brilliant sphere would have far better suited her tastes and disposition: though it must not be inferred from these observations, that she was deficient in any of the becoming qualities for the social position which she occupied. As Christian passed Mr. Stanhope and the Duchess, he raised his hat; and her Grace be- stowed upon him a kind word and a friendly smile. While continuing his way, he felt more than ever Tejoiced that accident should have rendered him instrumental in discovering the diabolical plots which were in existence against the peace of mind of this amiable lady; and he had such confidence in the wisdom and determination of Clement Red- cliffe, that he had no doubt as to the complete dis- comfiture of the conspirators. Hastening onward, he in a short time reached the turnpike; and ata little distance he beheld Mr. Redcliffe walking slowly along, enveloped in his cloak, and with his hat drawn more than ever over his countenance. After hasty greetings were exchanged, Redcliffe conducted Christian across the fields to a lonely little cottage, inhabited by an elderly couple; and here it appeared that he had taken up his quarters. His lodgings consisted of a small but neat parlour and a bed-chamber. The dwelling was altogether secluded; and Redcliffe gave Christian to under- stand that the elderly couple were not of prying or inquisitive dispositions, and that therefore he had been most fortunate in discovering such a re- treat. “ And now, my young friend,” he said, “ what intelligence have you for me?” Christian stated that Mr. Stanhope was at Oak- lands, and that he daily walked out with the Duchess. He then proceeded to explain how the Duke of Marchmont had made him convey the box to the farm-house at a late hour on the Thurs- day night—and how it was left there. Christian also mentioned the circumstance of having seen some shape moving about in the vicinage of the pond during the walk homeward on the occasion referred to. “‘T perceive,” said Mr. Redcliffe, after having reflected profoundly for upwards of a minute, “that the incident you have just related, produced some little sensation of awe upon your mind. But the Duke, you tell me, bade you be careful how you yielded to superstitious fears. I also repeat that advice; and perhaps I can give it with a clearer conscience than he. Yes, Christian, it was no doubt some wayfarer——-or midnight wan- derer,” added Mr. Redcliffe slowly, “ whose form you beheld upon that spot at that hour. But it is clear,” he went on to observe, speaking more quickly, “ that the plot is now progressing fast, and that the inci- dents are thickening. It is time that I should explain to you something which I had not the op- portunity to do when you came to me last Tuesday evening. To my comprehension there is no mys- tery in respect to the box. You heard, from Eve- leen O’Brien’s lips, that it contained dresses which a THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. are the precise duplicates of others recently made for the Duchess of Marchmont. Those dresses, Christian, will be doubtless worn by some one who is to personate the Duchess Al! now you un- derstand the full extent of the villany of which the Duke is capable !” “‘T do indeed, sir,’ responded Christian ; almost smitten with dismay as the light thus dawned in upon his mind. “ But how will you frustrate this portion of the diabolical conspiracy ?” “Fear not, my young friend,” answered Red- cliffe. ‘Rest assured that innocence and virtue shall yet triumph over the most villanous trea- chery. Come to me again the moment you have anything fresh to impart: but if nothing should transpire for a few days, do not revisit me until the middle of the eusuing week. We must be upon our guard, so as to take no step that may excite suspicion.” After a little further discourse, Christian took his departure and returned to Oaklands. It was about eleven o’clock in the night of this same day, that Lettice Rodney issued forth from the lonely farm-house. She wore an ample cloak over her dress: a thick veil covered her counte- nance. The night was beautiful and starlit: the air was frosty, with an invigorating freshness totally different from that damp chill which makes the form shiver and the teeth chatter. Quickly threading the lane, Lettice entered upon the road, —on gaining which she endeavoured to hum an opera-air to keep up her spirits, or rather to persuade herself that there was no superstitious terror in her mind as she pursued her way in a neighbour- hood rendered so fearfully memorable by an ap- palling murder. All of a sudden, however, she stopped short and turned hastily round: for it struck her that she heard footsteps following over the hard frost-bound road. At the same instant that she thus looked back, she fancied that she caught a glimpse of some dark form disappearing in the shade of the hedge which skirted the road. She was not naturally a coward—very far from it: but she could not help trembling all over, half with a superstitious fear, and half with the dread lest some evil-disposed person should be dogging her footsteps. She was somewhat inclined to re- trace her way to the farm-house: but this would be to abandon the enterprise in which she had embarked, and on account of which she had already received so signal a proof of the Duke of March- mont’s munificence. Therefore, mustering up all her courage, she continued her route. In a few minutes she reached the pond which she knew to have been the spot where the murder was committed, although she was now threading this road for the first time. Through the folds of her veil her eyes glanced rapidly around ; and she could scarcely keep back a scream as she beheld, either in fancy or reality, a dark shape on the op- posite side of the hedge which bounded the pond. It instantaneously disappeared ;—and speeding forward, Lettice strove hard to persuade herself that it was merely imagination. ‘‘ Nevertheless,” she thought, “if these noc- turnal journeys are to be frequently repeated, I must positively solicit his Grace to give me some escort. Not,” she added, as she thus mused, “that I am afraid of preternatural appearances no, no—that is sheer nonsense ! but it is Onin Go OOikS iGO